Abandoned at the Service Station, I Watched His Taillights Fade Chapter 02

Abandoned at the Service Station, I Watched His Taillights Fade Chapter 02

The next morning, the wind off the ocean was brutal.

Our group had chartered a yacht for the day. Not long after we boarded, the boat started pitching hard in the swells.

I leaned against the railing, my face pale. Ethan came out of the cabin holding a box of motion sickness patches. He walked up and tore one open.

“You got seasick on that island trip freshman year. You still haven’t figured this out?”

He reached down and pressed the patch behind my ear, his fingertips warm against my skin. “Go sit inside where the wind can’t hit you. You’ll feel better.”

I looked up at him.

For a split second, I almost believed he was still the Ethan who only had eyes for me.

“Ethan!”

Sophie’s frantic cry came from the bow. “The waves are insane—I can’t keep my balance!”

Ethan pulled his hand back immediately.

He spun around and strode toward the bow. “Don’t move. Are you even wearing a life jacket?”

He stopped in front of her, grabbed a life jacket, and wrapped it around her himself, snapping every buckle tight. He gave it a hard tug to make sure it held.

“I told you not to wear heels.”

His voice was sharp, but his hand was steady on her waist.

I stood there, touching the patch behind my ear.

Whatever warmth I’d felt a moment ago was gone, ripped away by the sea wind.

The yacht anchored in a stretch of water with a postcard-perfect view.

Marcus Cole, the photographer, started arranging everyone on the deck for the graduation photo.

“Alright, guys in the middle, a girl on each side.”

The second I stepped up to Ethan’s left, Sophie naturally hooked her arm around his right.

Ethan ducked his head and tucked a stray strand of Sophie’s windblown hair behind her ear.

Marcus lifted the camera, grinning.

“The two on the right, you guys are feeling it. Are you together? You look great together.”

Ethan’s hand paused. He didn’t correct him.

Sophie blushed and shot Ethan a quick glance.

She hurriedly grabbed my hand. “He’s just joking—we’re all three here together. Nat, squeeze in closer.”

She tried to pull me toward the center.

But Ethan’s shoulder was already angled toward Sophie.

What was left for me was a sliver of space I could barely shove myself into.

The flash went off. I caught my own reflection in the lens—crammed at the edge, only half my face visible.

I looked like an intruder who didn’t belong between them.

That evening, we were back in the common room at The Driftwood Inn.

It had started raining outside, so everyone gathered on the rug to play Truth or Dare.

A few rounds in, the bottle spun and landed on Ethan.

The guy asking the question was pretty hammered, his words slurring.

“Ethan, four years of college—who’d you click with the most? Like, the one who really gets you?”

The whole room went dead quiet.

Everyone’s eyes darted between Sophie and me.

The only sound was the rain lashing against the windows. Ethan leaned back on the couch, spinning his empty glass.

He barely hesitated. “Soph, probably.”

The air froze.

Sophie’s head shot up, her eyes flashing toward me in panic.

Ethan seemed to realize how bad that sounded.

He turned and took my hand. “But Nat… she’s easy. Never stresses me out. Never any drama.”

He thought that little add-on would smooth things over.

Those words—never have to worry about—made my stomach churn. Never have to worry about means you don’t have to take care of her, don’t have to consider her feelings—you can always put her second and call it logic.

I looked down at his hand holding mine. I didn’t scream. I didn’t demand an explanation. I just slowly, inch by inch, pulled my hand away.

Ethan blinked. “What’s wrong?” He frowned.

“I’m tired.” I stood up and brushed the dust off my skirt. “You guys go ahead. I’m gonna crash.”

I didn’t look at anyone’s face. I turned and walked toward the stairs.

Ethan’s voice came from behind me. “Natalie, what’s your problem now?”

I didn’t stop.